CHANGES IN HYDROLASE ENZYMORPHOLOGY OF RAT UTERUS AND VAGINA AFTER ESTROGENS; NAPHTHOL AS SUBSTRATES

Abstract

The early enzymorphologic changes of rat uterus and vagina on castration and following estrogen administration (estradiol-17β, estrone and estriol) were examined with regard to alkaline phosphatase, esterase, β-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase using naphthol AS compounds as substrates. Castration caused a marked decrease of enzyme activities except for alkaline phosphatase of capillary endothelium and for nonspecific esterase. All activities, compared to castrated controls, were markedly increased by estrogen administration except for the alkaline phosphatase of capillary endothelia. Estriol and estrone were more potent than estradiol-17β in the early stage of estrogen treatment (4-hour interval). The response of alkaline phosphatase of striated border of lumenal uterine epithelium to estrogen treatment is unique in that the other hydrolases were absent from this site. The estrogen sensitivity of the hydrolases of connective tissue cells of rat uterine stroma is clearly evident for the first time. Of interest also is a comparison of β-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase in which naphthol AS-BI is the product of enzyme hydrolysis in each case. Although the intensity of the respective staining reactions correlated well with each other in relation to the events of castration and estrogen administration, there were clear differences evident. Finally, the new findings demonstrate the value of the improved techniques as well as resolve some ambiguities of earlier findings obtained with diverse methods.